Some of the best gear comes with a hefty price; it’s something I try to at least contextualize when reviewing something in a higher price tier like the Sony InZone H9 II headset. With it sharing the same audio drivers as the high-end Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, you may think you’re getting a bargain, yet compared to the top gaming headsets, the InZone H9 II hits the upper limit in price. So it’s in an interesting position, and after using it for a week straight, Sony’s new enthusiast gaming headset has a lot going for it, even at $350. It’s stiff competition when looking at the all-timers in the Audeze Maxwell or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (and doubly-so with the brand-new Arctis Nova Elite that blew us away), but it’s a smartly designed headset especially if competitive gaming is your primary focus.
Sony InZone H9 II – Design and Features
Unlike most of its contemporaries, the InZone H9 II sports a very thin no-frills aluminum headband wrapped in a braided fabric with a slim padded suspension band for adjusting the fit. Small notches on both sides let you slide the suspension band easily and secure it in place – this is one of the most understated designs I’ve seen from a gaming headset in a good while, but it helps keep it super light at 260g. The earcups are made of a rounded plastic without much of any branding or stylish flair. They have a bit of a hollow feel, which on one hand may seem fragile, but what you get in turn is something that’s very easy to wear and durable enough to flex or handle without worry.
Its 30mm audio drivers and smaller battery also contribute to the lightweight internals. Combined with a lower clamp force and soft earpads wrapped in a slick fabric, you get one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve worn in recent years. The key part here is that it rests so easily on my head – and while something like the Audeze Maxwell has fantastic plushy earpads, it’s a heavyweight that always reminds me that I have a tank attached to my head. The InZone H9 II on the other hand is a featherweight champion.
When it comes to controls, the right earcup has the game-chat volume mix buttons (which I prefer over a wheel), a dedicated Bluetooth toggle, the power button, and a big ol’ microphone mute toggle at the top near the headband. On the right earcup, you’ll find the volume wheel, ANC-ambient mode toggle, USB-C charging port, 3.5mm audio jack, and detachable microphone port. Controls are spaced out nicely and everything has a unique shape so it’s easy to distinguish them when making adjustments. The full 180-degree swiveling of the earcups is quite unique to gaming headsets, and it’s actually a nice feature that makes it easy to hang around my neck (swiveling inward) or set down on my desk (swivel outward) – another way the InZone H9 II handles wonderfully.
To sweeten the deal a bit, the package comes with a cloth carrying case and a long 10-foot 3.5mm audio cable for analog sound. The 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is slim and lets you switch between a PC-specific protocol and a general one for other platforms (however, this will not work with Xbox systems).
